- Birth: Aug. 10, 1861
Death: Mar. 9, 1908
Ponca City
Kay County
Oklahoma, USA
From the Ponca City Daily Courier, March 10, 1908:
SHERIFF FORD KILLED BY TRAIN.
Falls Under Passenger Coach at Ponca City. BODY TERRIBLY MANGLED. Attempted to Jump from Moving Train When Within Two Hundred Feet of the Depot Platform --Death Was Almost Instantaneous. -- As Santa Fe passenger train No. 405 was slowing up for the Ponca City depot at 9:15 last night, the train being on time, Syl G. Ford, sheriff of Kay county, who was coming from the county seat on official business, attempted to jump from the moving train while it was yet some two or three hundred feet from the depot platform, fell under the wheels...
As the train came into town, Mr. Ford stood on the bottom step of the car, while just behind him on the steps above and on the platform stood L. B. Hart and D. R. Driscoll, his deputies, and J. J. Whallon of this city. When he jumped those behind him did not know he had fallen under the wheels, but as soon as the train stopped, which was not more than a minute afterwards, they ran back and found him lying on the track, face downward. They turned him over on his back and one of the said to him, "Syl are you hurt?" "I am killed," he said, and that was all. He was dead in less than five minutes after the wheels struck him.
Mr. Ford was about 47 years of age and leaves a wife and two children, a son and daughter, the son being a student n the State University at Norman. The daughter is about 17 years old and the son about 20. In the election held last fall he was elected sheriff of this county, and died like a soldier, in the line of duty. It is understood that his object in jumping from the car before it reached the depot platform was to avoid being seen by parties for whom he had warrants, and who might possibly endeavor to evade arrest if they saw him in time. He had been in office only since the 16 of last November and was making a good record. His sudden death, under attendant circumstances is one of the most deplorable that this writer has ever been called upon to chronicle. To the stricken family the sympathy of many friends is extended in full measure, pressed down and running over, which it is hoped may serve to alleviate by some degree the deep sorrow with which they have been stricken.
Note: Next to Kate Ford Jackson Burial:
Newkirk Cemetery
Newkirk
Kay County
Oklahoma, USA
(from Ancestry)
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